Protective garment for animals

Abstract

A protective garment for animals to reduce the possibility that the animal will be attacked by a bird of prey. The garment may include a central portion with flaps extending from opposite sides of the central portion. The flaps may be fastened together around the chest and stomach of the animal. Additional flaps may be provided to secure the garment around the animal's neck. The material used on the central portion of the garment is a holographic material that that shimmers in light and disorients and confuses a bird of prey to avoid the bird of prey attacking the animal. Battery powered lights, such as LED lights, may be provided to illuminate the holographic material during low light conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protective garment, the protective garment comprising:
 a central portion having a longitudinal axis and including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a first side extending laterally in a first direction from the longitudinal axis and a second side extending laterally in a second direction from the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction; 
 a first flap extending in the first direction from the first side of the central portion; 
 a second flap extending in the second direction from the second side of the central portion; 
 wherein the first flap and the second flap each have an inside surface adapted to contact an animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first flap and the second flap are extendable around a body of the animal and fasten to each other; 
 a first collar flap extending from the front end of the central portion, the first collar flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges that with the free distal end of the first collar flap form a portion of the perimeter of the garment; 
 a second collar flap extending from the front end of the central portion laterally spaced in the second direction from the first collar flap, the second collar flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges that with the free distal end of the second collar flap form a portion of the perimeter of the garment; 
 wherein the first collar flap and the second collar flap each have an inside surface adapted to contact the animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first collar flap and the second collar flap are extendable around a neck of the animal and fasten to each other; and 
 wherein the central portion comprises an outer surface that comprises an array having a plurality of cells separated by a grid, wherein each of the plurality of cells comprises an iridescent material that shimmers in light in a manner that disorients and confuses a tetrachromatic bird of prey to render the animal wearing the protective garment substantially invisible to the bird of prey and substantially prevent the bird of prey from attacking the animal. 
 
     
     
       2. The protective garment of  claim 1  further comprising an opening in the central portion and battery powered lights removably installed in the opening wherein at least a portion of the iridescent material is illuminated in low light condition when the battery powered lights are installed in the opening of the garment and activated. 
     
     
       3. The protective garment of  claim 2  wherein the battery powered lights are LED lights. 
     
     
       4. The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the first flap and the second flap each have an inside surface adapted to contact the animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first flap and the second flap are extendible around the body of the animal and fasten to each other with hook and loop fasteners, wherein the inside surface of the first flap includes a hook section of fastener and a loop section of fastener, and wherein the outside surface of the second flap includes a hook section of fastener and a loop section of fastener. 
     
     
       5. The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the first collar flap and the second collar flap each have an inside surface adapted to contact the animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first collar flap and the second collar flap are extendible around the neck of the animal and fasten to each other with hook and loop fasteners, wherein the inside surface of the first collar flap includes a hook section of fastener and a loop section of fastener, and wherein the outside surface of the second collar flap includes a hook section of fastener and a loop section of fastener. 
     
     
       6. A protective garment for an animal, the garment comprising:
 a central portion having a longitudinal axis and including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a first side extending laterally in a first direction from the longitudinal axis and a second side extending laterally in a second direction from the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction; 
 a first flap extending in the first direction from the first side of the central portion; 
 a second flap extending in the second direction from the second side of the central portion; 
 wherein the first flap and the second flap each have an inside surface adapted to contact an animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first flap and the second flap are extendable around a body of the animal and fasten to each other; and 
 wherein the central portion is comprised of an array having a plurality of cells separated by a grid, wherein each of the plurality of cells comprises an iridescent material that shimmers, in light in a manner that disorients and confuses a tetrachromatic bird of prey to render the animal wearing the protective garment substantially invisible to the bird of prey and substantially prevent the bird of prey from attacking the animal. 
 
     
     
       7. The protective garment of  claim 6  further comprising an opening in the central portion and battery powered lights removably installed in the opening wherein at least a portion of the iridescent material is illuminated in low light condition when the battery powered lights are installed in the opening of the garment and activated. 
     
     
       8. The protective garment of  claim 7  wherein the battery powered lights are LED lights. 
     
     
       9. The protective garment of  claim 6  wherein the first flap and the second flap each have an inside surface adapted to contact the animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first flap and the second flap are extendible around the body of the animal and fasten to each other with hook and loop fasteners, wherein the inside surface of the first flap includes a hook section of fastener and a loop section of fastener, and wherein the outside surface of the second flap includes a hook section of fastener and a loop section of fastener. 
     
     
       10. A protective garment, the protective garment comprising:
 a central portion having a longitudinal axis and including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a first side extending laterally in a first direction from the longitudinal axis and a second side extending laterally in a second direction from the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction; 
 a first flap extending in the first direction from the first side of the central portion; 
 a second flap extending in the second direction from the second side of the central portion; 
 wherein the first flap and the second flap each have an inside surface adapted to contact an animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first flap and the second flap are extendable around a body of the animal and fasten to each other; 
 a first collar flap extending from the front end of the central portion, the first collar flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges that with the free distal end of the first collar flap form a portion of the perimeter of the garment; 
 a second collar flap extending from the front end of the central portion laterally spaced in the second direction from the first collar flap, the second collar flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges that with the free distal end of the second collar flap form a portion of the perimeter of the garment; 
 wherein the first collar flap and the second collar flap each have an inside surface adapted to contact the animal and an outside surface adapted to face away from the animal, wherein the first collar flap and the second collar flap are extendable around a neck of the animal and fasten to each other; and 
 wherein the central portion comprises an outer surface having an array of iridescent cells separated by a grid. 
 
     
     
       11. The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein each iridescent cell within the array of iridescent cells comprises an iridescent material that shimmers in light in a manner that disorients and confuses a tetrachromatic bird of prey to render the animal wearing the protective garment substantially invisible to the bird of prey and substantially prevent the bird of prey from attacking the animal. 
     
     
       12. The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein a majority of the iridescent cells within the array of iridescent cells are substantially the same size. 
     
     
       13. The protective garment of  claim 12 , wherein a majority of the iridescent cells within the array of iridescent cells are substantially the same shape. 
     
     
       14. The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein the opaque grid is non-iridescent. 
     
     
       15. The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the array of iridescent cells comprises a regular pattern of similarly sized and shaped iridescent cells. 
     
     
       16. The protective garment of  claim 10 , further comprising an external light source affixed to the outer surface of the garment and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the iridescent cells. 
     
     
       17. The protective garment of  claim 16 , wherein the external light source is removably engaged with the garment.